Smith and Labuschagne lobby Tim Paine to share bowling for remainder of Ashes series

Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne are reportedly lobbying their captain to share the bowling for remainder of the current Ashes series. Sources close to the team claim that Australian cricket’s newest dynamic duo have become so emboldened by their burgeoning batting relationship that they feel their superpower could extend to the bowling crease.

Speaking exclusively to The Watsonia Bugle, the inside source said, “Yeah mate, last night Smudga and Marnie were just going on and on about their underrated leggies to poor old Painey. They spoke to him in the rooms after the game, then at dinner with the team, and just before I went to bed last night, I spotted Smudga knocking on the door of Painey’s room. I can only presume it was to continue the discussion around bowling options for day three of this all-important Test.”

The source also claimed that the key batting pair had been inseparable ever since Labuschagne replaced Smith as a concussion sub during the Lord’s Test. They said, “I’ve been spotting them everywhere. Popping out of the team hotel in the morning to grab a coffee, hogging the PlayStation in the team room during down time, shadow batting together on the team bus. It’s a full-blown love affair.”